Following a string of bizarre public incidences, Phil Rudd of AC/DC has again found himself on the wrong side of the law, this time for allegedly threatening a former body guard who was a witness in upcoming court proceedings.
New Zealand’s Stuff is reporting that the incident occurred near Rudd’s home in Tauranga, New Zealand when he encountered the former body guard at a local coffee shop.
Rudd escalated things, with one eyewitness claiming that he was “all up in the guy’s face.” According to one of the servers at the cafe, the former body guard shoved Rudd in the chest at which point, “He fell backwards over our sign and landed in the cafe. There was food and stuff everywhere.”
Following the incident, Rudd drove away only to be detained by police shortly thereafter.
According to Spin, interacting with the body guard at all violated a court order to refrain from communicating with witnesses in the case. Rudd was released on bail, although with increased restrictions, and is scheduled to continue his court proceedings on February 10.
Craig Tuck, Rudd’s attorney, has said of the incident, “it was a meeting with somebody he wasn’t meant to associate with in a shop. It was a chance meeting and then there was contact from that.”
Rudd has been no stranger to legal troubles, though the most damning charge against him of hiring a hit-man has been dropped. He recently entered a not guilty plea on charges of threatening to kill and drug possession charges.
For their part, other members of AC/DC have openly stated that they intend to tour in support of their new album Rock or Bust with or without the 60-year-old drummer. Rock or Bust was released on November 28 on Alberta/Columbia and is projected to sell well within its first week.